SAN FRANCISCO - Brace yourself for some positive Yankees injury news, for a change.

Miguel Andujar could be back in Aaron Boone's lineup in about a week.

Back at Tampa on Friday afternoon, Andujar went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer and a walk, playing five innings at third base.

This was easily the most important Florida extended spring training game involving a Yankee this year.

And from here, the Yankees can envision Andujar's path to the Bronx.

"If it continues to go well, (there's) a chance he could be back with us by next weekend,'' Yankees manager Aaron Boone said before Friday night's interleague series opener against the Giants at Oracle Park.

New York Yankees infielder Miguel Andujar is making progress in his rehab, graduating to hitting on the field and taking batting practice swings at “90 to 95 percent effort’’ Thursday, April 18, 2019.(Photo: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sport)

Andujar has been on the 10-day injured list since April 1, due to a small tear in his right labrum.

So far, the right-handed hitting runner-up for last year's AL Rookie of the Year award has responded well to rehab, hoping to avoid the possibility of season-ending surgery that loomed when he was first diagnosed.

"I would still say I remain cautiously optimistic,'' Boone said of Andujar's status. "We'll see how these next several days unfold, how he feels like he can handle the workload defensively and get (his throws) across the diamond.

"What we're seeing now...it seems like no issue at all.''

Andujar is scheduled to play in another extended spring training game on Saturday, serving as the designated hitter.

He'll have Sunday off, ahead of playing in a third extended spring game on Monday.

The plan is for Andujar to begin a minor league rehab assignment on Tuesday with Class A Tampa.

Andujar, 24, injured his shoulder during a March 31 game against the Orioles at Yankee Stadium, sliding head first back into third base.

Every player’s physiology is different, and “some guys can play with’’ partial labrum tears, whether it’s a pitcher or a position player, Boone said.

Strength tests on Andujar's right shoulder have been encouraging from the start.

And now there's even more hope that Andujar can resume being counted upon as a slash-hitting, middle-of-the-order force on a club with pennant aspirations.

Out of left field

Yankees rookie infielder Thairo Estrada played his first professional game as a left fielder on Friday night, after a whopping four days of crash-course instruction on the position.

“I’ll give it the best I have,’’ Estrada said through an interpreter before the Yanks-Giants series opener. “I’m going to enjoy the opportunity itself.’’

Until Friday night, Estrada’s only other big-league start came as a second baseman, in Tuesday night’s 7-5 win at Anaheim.

And with Giancarlo Stanton (left shoulder, biceps), Aaron Judge (oblique) and Aaron Hicks (lower back) on the shelf, “obviously we’re not in a normal situation with some of the things we’re dealing with.’’

From what Estrada has shown in his outfield prep work, “he’s one really well out there,’’ Boone said. “He’s a really good athlete.’’

With lefty Madison Bumgarner going for the Giants on Friday, Boone chose to rest Brett Gardner and sit fellow lefty hitter Tyler Wade, inserting Estrada in left field and Cameron Maybin in right.

The right-handed hitting Maybin – who’d been lingering on the Indians’ Class AAA roster - was acquired on Thursday from Cleveland in a trade for cash considerations.

Estrada said he already “feels comfortable’’ at his new position. And he’s going in with a positive attitude.

“You have to look at it with the objective that you have a job to do,’’ Estrada said. “And the work that I’ve done is going to allow me to do that.’’